# Community Engagement Core

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA · 2020 · $226,450

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORE
The purpose of the Community Engagement Core (CEC) of the CAPICCOHH is to direct best community
engagement practices for addressing climate change impacts that may affect Vibrio bacteria and
Cyanobacterial toxin exposures to residents living in coastal areas and near aquatic ecosystems (e.g. lakes
and reservoirs). Climate change may not only affect these microbes but may result in greater exposures to the
public in drinking water, seafood and during contact recreation. The research conducted by our CAPICCOHH
may help develop models and forecasts that better alert the public to reduce their exposure and public health
risks. The CEC will coordinate and oversee community engagement opportunities that employ the strengths of
the participating communities and assist with better understanding of the communities' dynamics to advance
positive outcomes. Consistent with the primary Environmental Justice (EJ) objective of the Federal
government, the CEC will work to “advance the quality of life for our communities”. As such, the CEC will use
CAPICCOHH state-of-the-science research and contextually relevant and community-supported, innovative
approaches to Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) to contribute to the overall success of the
program by optimizing community engagement practices. The CEC will build on successful approaches
guided by the Department of Energy's (DOE) Partnership in Participation Approach (PPA) and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -supported Asset-based Community Development (ABCD) strategy for
community engagement. By advancing the communities' increased understanding of 1.) the effects of climate
change effects on Vibrio bacteria and Cyanobacteria; 2.) resulting exposure to highly virulent and antibiotic
resistant Vibrio bacteria and highly toxic Cyanobacterial toxins from Cyanobacteria; and 3.) development of
prevention and intervention practices such as forecasts, alerts and health messaging to high risk individuals
and communities. The CEC will empower impacted communities to be full participants in decisions to reduce
the toxicity of and exposure to these microbes that may cause increases in human disease including non-
alcoholic liver disease and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), as a result of climate change. The close
proximity of coastal watersheds, seafood and contact recreation to their homes, schools, workplaces, and
communities make this a huge issue in terms of developing effective risk reduction and health prevention
strategies. Innovative aspects of our CEC include its focus on a bidirectional approach for effectively conveying
CAPICCOHH findings to the general public and the participating underserved communities using face-to-face
community interaction, mass media and social media approaches; working with CAPICCOHH investigators on
best practice strategies for communicating findings with diverse audiences through multiple channels; and
facilitati...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9977210
- **Project number:** 5P01ES028942-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Dwayne Edward Porter
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $226,450
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9977210

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9977210, Community Engagement Core (5P01ES028942-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9977210. Licensed CC0.

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